Migrating to App-V 5.1 from a Previous Version
With Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) 5.1, you can migrate your existing App-V 4.6 or App-V 5.0 infrastructure to the more flexible, integrated, and easier to manage App-V 5.1 infrastructure. However, you cannot migrate directly from App-V 4.x to App-V 5.1, you must migrate to App-V 5.0 first. For more information on migrating from App-V 4.x to App-V 5.0, see Migrating from a Previous Version
Note App-V 5.1 packages are exactly the same as App-V 5.0 packages. There has been no change in the package format between the versions and therefore, there is no need to convert App-V 5.0 packages to App-V 5.1 packages.
For more information about the differences between App-V 4.6 and App-V 5.1, see the Differences between App-V 4.6 and App-V 5.0 section of About App-V 5.0.
Improvements to the App-V 5.1 Package Converter
You can now use the package converter to convert App-V 4.6 packages that contain scripts, and registry information and scripts from source .osd files are now included in package converter output.
You can also use the –OSDsToIncludeInPackage
parameter with the ConvertFrom-AppvLegacyPackage
cmdlet to specify which .osd files’ information is converted and placed within the new package.
New in App-V 5.1 | Prior to App-V 5.1 |
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New .xml files are created corresponding to the .osd files associated with a package; these files include the following information:
You can now choose to add information from a subset of the .osd files in the source directory to the package using the |
Registry information and scripts included in .osd files associated with a package were not included in package converter output. The package converter would populate the new package with information from all of the .osd files in the source directory. |
Example conversion statement
To understand the new process, review the following example ConvertFrom-AppvLegacyPackage
package converter statement.
If the source directory (\\OldPkgStore\ContosoApp) includes the following:
ContosoApp.sft
ContosoApp.msi
ContosoApp.sprj
ContosoApp_manifest.xml
X.osd
Y.osd
Z.osd
And you run this command:
ConvertFrom-AppvLegacyPackage –SourcePath \\OldPkgStore\ContosoApp\
-DestinationPath \\NewPkgStore\ContosoApp\
-OSDsToIncludeInPackage X.osd,Y.osd
The following is created in the destination directory (\\NewPkgStore\ContosoApp):
ContosoApp.appv
ContosoApp.msi
ContosoApp_DeploymentConfig.xml
ContosoApp_UserConfig.xml
X_Config.xml
Y_Config.xml
Z_Config.xml
In the above example:
These Source directory files… | …are converted to these Destination directory files… | …and will contain these items | Description |
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Each .osd file is converted to a separate, corresponding .xml file that contains the items listed here in App-V 5.1 deployment configuration format. These items can then be copied from these .xml files and placed in the deployment configuration or user configuration files as desired. In this example, there are three .xml files, corresponding with the three .osd files in the source directory. Each .xml file contains the environment variables, shortcuts, file type associations, registry information, and scripts in its corresponding .osd file. |
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The information from the .osd files specified in the In this example, environment variables, shortcuts, and file type associations included in X.osd and Y.osd were converted and placed in the App-V package, and some of this information was also included in the deployment configuration and user configuration files. X.osd and Y.osd were used because they were included as arguments to the |
Converting packages created using a prior version of App-V
Use the package converter utility to upgrade virtual application packages created using versions of App-V prior to App-V 5.0. The package converter uses PowerShell to convert packages and can help automate the process if you have many packages that require conversion.
Important After you convert an existing package you should test the package prior to deploying the package to ensure the conversion process was successful.
What to know before you convert existing packages
Issue | Workaround |
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Virtual packages using DSC are not linked after conversion. |
Link the packages using connection groups. See Managing Connection Groups. |
Environment variable conflicts are detected during conversion. |
Resolve any conflicts in the associated .osd file. |
Hard-coded paths are detected during conversion. |
Hard-coded paths are difficult to convert correctly. The package converter will detect and return packages with files that contain hard-coded paths. View the file with the hard-coded path, and determine whether the package requires the file. If so, it is recommended to re-sequence the package. |
When converting a package check for failing files or shortcuts. Locate the item in App-V 4.6 package. It could possibly be a hard-coded path. Convert the path.
Note It is recommended that you use the App-V 5.1 sequencer for converting critical applications or applications that need to take advantage of features. See, How to Sequence a New Application with App-V 5.1.
If a converted package does not open after you convert it, it is also recommended that you re-sequence the application using the App-V 5.1 sequencer.
How to Convert a Package Created in a Previous Version of App-V
Migrating Clients
The following table displays the recommended method for upgrading clients.
Task | More Information |
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Upgrade your environment to the latest version of App-V 4.6 |
Application Virtualization Deployment and Upgrade Considerations. |
Install the App-V 5.1 client with co-existence enabled. |
How to Deploy the App-V 4.6 and the App-V 5.1 Client on the Same Computer. |
Sequence and roll out App-V 5.1 packages. As needed, unpublish App-V 4.6 packages. |
Important You must be running the latest version of App-V 4.6 to use coexistence mode. Additionally, when you sequence a package, you must configure the Managing Authority setting, which is in the User Configuration is located in the User Configuration section.
Migrating the App-V 5.1 Server Full Infrastructure
There is no direct method to upgrade to a full App-V 5.1 infrastructure. Use the information in the following section for information about upgrading the App-V server.
Task | More Information |
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Upgrade your environment to the latest version of App-V 4.6. |
Application Virtualization Deployment and Upgrade Considerations. |
Deploy App-V 5.1 version of the client. |
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Install App-V 5.1 server. |
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Migrate existing packages. |
See the Converting packages created using a prior version of App-V section of this article. |
Additional Migration tasks
You can also perform additional migration tasks such as reconfiguring end points as well as opening a package created using a prior version on a computer running the App-V 5.1 client. The following links provide more information about performing these tasks.
How to Migrate Extension Points From an App-V 4.6 Package to App-V 5.1 for a Specific User
How to Revert Extension Points From an App-V 5.1 Package to an App-V 4.6 Package for a Specific User
Other resources for performing App-V migration tasks
A simplified Microsoft App-V 5.1 Management Server upgrade procedure